In the Nissan e-POWER, the wheels are only ever provided power by the electric motor –and this electric motor is provided power by a combination of the VC-Turbo petrol engine and lithium ionbattery.
In an 100% electric vehicle, the motor driving the wheels is only provided power by a large lithium ionbattery, which you have to plug in to charge. With a fully electric vehicle you experience zero emissions while driving.
In a traditional hybrid vehicle, power can be provided to the wheels by the engine, the electric motor or a combination of the both. The battery that provides power to the motor is recharged by the engine.
As power is provided to the wheels in different ways, depending on the powertrain, the way the vehicle drives will vary. e-POWER gives the feeling of driving an electric vehicle, without the need to plug in.